Who Should I Start? Lamar Jackson or Malik Willis

Thursday, November 5, 4:37 PM

Despite quarterback Lamar Jackson's thumb injury that is expected to keep him out for the rest of the 2026 season, the Baltimore Ravens are willing to make Jackson the highest-paid player in NFL history, according to NFL on Prime's James Palmer. Baltimore officially placed Jackson on Injured Reserve on Thursday, and the expectation is that he will be ruled out for the year when he has right-thumb surgery in the coming days. The 29-year-old two-time MVP has a full no-trade clause and a no-tag clause. The Ravens will have to do something, as Jackson has an $84.34 million salary cap hit for next season in what will be the final year of the five-year, $260 million contract he signed with the Ravens in April of 2023. The two sides will attempt to get something done after the end of the 2026 season and before the start of free agency in 2027. The four-time Pro Bowler played in only 13 games due to various lower-body injuries in 2025 and will likely finish with five starts in 2026 due to thumb and ankle injuries. Injuries have become a major issue for Jackson over the last two years, but the Ravens know that QBs like Jackson do not grow on trees. Jackson will be a risk/reward high-end QB1 for his dual-threat abilities in 2027 in fantasy football.